In Act 2, Scene 3 of William Shakespeare's Henry IV, Part 1, Lady Percy confronts her husband, Hotspur, expressing concern over his recent distant behavior and seeking to understand the cause of his unrest.

Title of Monologue:

Lady Percy's Monologue from Act 2, Scene 3 of Henry IV, Part 1

O my good lord, why are you thus alone?

Synopsis:

Lady Percy addresses Hotspur, questioning his solitary demeanor, loss of appetite, and disturbed sleep. She reveals her awareness of his war-related murmurs during sleep and implores him to confide in her, suggesting that withholding his troubles implies a lack of love.

What’s just happened before this moment that’s relevant to the scene?

Hotspur has been preoccupied with plans to rebel against King Henry IV. His obsession with military strategies has led him to neglect his wife, Lady Percy, both emotionally and physically, prompting her to seek answers.

Original Text:

LADY PERCY

O my good lord, why are you thus alone?

For what offense have I this fortnight been

A banished woman from my Harry’s bed?

Tell me, sweet lord, what is ’t that takes from thee

Thy stomach, pleasure, and thy golden sleep?

Why dost thou bend thine eyes upon the earth

And start so often when thou sit’st alone?

Why hast thou lost the fresh blood in thy cheeks

And given my treasures and my rights of thee

To thick-eyed musing and curst melancholy?

In thy faint slumbers I by thee have watched,

And heard thee murmur tales of iron wars,

Speak terms of manage to thy bounding steed,

Cry “Courage! To the field!” And thou hast talk’d

Of sallies and retires, of trenches, tents,

Of palisadoes, frontiers, parapets,

Of basilisks, of cannon, culverin,

Of prisoners' ransom and of soldiers slain,

And all the currents of a heady fight.

Thy spirit within thee hath been so at war,

And thus hath so bestirred thee in thy sleep,

That beads of sweat have stood upon thy brow

Like bubbles in a late-disturbèd stream,

And in thy face strange motions have appeared,

Such as we see when men restrain their breath

On some great sudden hest. O, what portents are these?

Some heavy business hath my lord in hand,

And I must know it, else he loves me not.

Translation of Text into Contemporary Language:

LADY PERCY

Oh, my dear lord, why are you isolating yourself?

What have I done to be banished from your bed for the past two weeks?

Tell me, sweet lord, what is it that has taken away your appetite, joy, and precious sleep?

Why do you stare at the ground and startle so often when you're alone?

Why have you lost the color in your cheeks and given my rightful place to dark thoughts and cursed melancholy?

I've watched you during your restless sleep and heard you murmur about fierce wars,

Speak commands to your eager horse,

Cry “Courage! To the field!” You've talked of attacks and retreats, of trenches, tents,

Of fortifications, frontiers, ramparts,

Of powerful cannons, artillery,

Of prisoners' ransom and soldiers slain,

And all the currents of an intense battle.

Your spirit has been so at war within you,

And has so stirred you in your sleep,

That beads of sweat have stood upon your brow

Like bubbles in a recently disturbed stream,

And strange expressions have appeared on your face,

Like those we see when men hold their breath

At some sudden command. Oh, what signs are these?

You have some serious matter at hand,

And I must know it, or else you don't love me.

Meaning of Difficult or Unusual Words:

  • Bend thine eyes upon the earth: Lower your gaze to the ground.

  • Start: To jump or twitch suddenly.

  • Fresh blood in thy cheeks: Healthy color or blush.

  • Thick-eyed musing: Deep, dull contemplation.

  • Curst melancholy: Accursed sadness or depression.

  • Faint slumbers: Light or restless sleep.

  • Murmur tales of iron wars: Mutter about fierce battles.

  • Terms of manage to thy bounding steed: Commands to your spirited horse.

  • Sallies and retires: Attacks and retreats.

  • Palisadoes: Fences made of stakes; fortifications.

  • Frontiers: Boundaries or borders.

  • Parapets: Protective walls or barriers on fortifications.

  • Basilisks, cannon, culverin: Types of cannons or artillery.

  • Currents of a heady fight: The flow or course of an intense battle.

  • Bestirred thee in thy sleep: Agitated you during sleep.

  • Beads of sweat have stood upon thy brow: Drops of sweat have appeared on your forehead.

  • Late-disturbèd stream: A stream recently stirred or troubled.

  • Strange motions: Unusual expressions or movements.

  • Restrain their breath on some great sudden hest: Hold their breath at a sudden command.

  • Portents: Omens or signs.

  • Heavy business: Serious matters or concerns.

Breakdown of Text into ‘New Thought’ Paragraphs:

  1. Inquiry into Isolation: O my good lord, why are you thus alone?
    For what offense have I this fortnight been
    A banished woman from my Harry’s bed?
    Lady Percy questions why Hotspur isolates himself and why she has been excluded from his company and bed for the past two weeks.

  2. Observations of Distress: Tell me, sweet lord, what is ’t that takes from thee
    Thy stomach, pleasure, and thy golden sleep?
    Why dost thou bend thine eyes upon the earth
    And start so often when thou sit’st alone?
    Why hast thou lost the fresh blood in thy cheeks
    And given my treasures and my rights of thee
    To thick-eyed musing and curst melancholy?
    She notes his loss of appetite, joy, and restful sleep, his frequent staring at the ground, sudden starts when alone, and the loss of color in his face, attributing these changes to deep, troubled thoughts.

  3. Recounting Troubled Sleep: In thy faint slumbers I by thee have watched,
    And heard thee murmur tales of iron wars,
    Speak terms of manage to thy bounding steed,
    Cry “Courage! To the field!” And thou hast talk’d
    Of sallies and retires, of trenches, tents,
    Of palisadoes, frontiers, parapets,
    Of basilisks, of cannon, culverin,
    Of prisoners' ransom and of soldiers slain,
    And all the currents of a heady fight.
    Lady Percy describes observing Hotspur in restless sleep, murmuring about warfare, commanding his horse, and speaking of various military terms and actions, indicating his mind is consumed by thoughts of battle.

  4. Physical Manifestations of Inner Turmoil: Thy spirit within thee hath been so at war,
    And thus hath so bestirred thee in thy sleep,
    That beads of sweat have stood upon thy brow
    Like bubbles in a late-disturbèd stream,
    And in thy face strange motions have appeared,
    Such as we see when men restrain their breath
    On some great sudden hest.
    She observes that his inner turmoil causes him to sweat profusely during sleep, with facial expressions resembling those of men holding their breath under sudden stress.

  5. Demand for Disclosure: O, what portents are these? Some heavy business hath my lord in hand,
    And I must know it, else he loves me not.
    Lady Percy interprets these signs as omens of serious matters occupying Hotspur's mind and insists that if he loves her, he must confide in her.

Journey Keypoints:

  • Hook: Lady Percy confronts Hotspur about his isolation and their estrangement.

  • Turning Point: She details his physical and emotional distress, highlighting the severity of his preoccupation.

  • Climax: Recounting his restless sleep filled with war-related murmurs, she emphasizes the depth of his inner conflict.

  • Resolution: She demands transparency, asserting that his secrecy implies a lack of love for her.

Famous or Notable Actresses Who Have Played the Role:

  • Michelle Dockery: Portrayed Lady Percy in the 2012 BBC adaptation The Hollow Crown, bringing nuance to the character's emotional depth.

  • Joanne Pearce: Played Lady Percy in the 1989 Henry IV productions by the English Shakespeare Company, delivering a compelling performance.

  • Lisa Harrow: Assumed the role in the 1979 Royal Shakespeare Company production, offering a memorable interpretation of Lady Percy's character.

This monologue delves into themes of marital communication, emotional neglect, and the personal toll of political ambition, providing rich material for performance and analysis.